A Mid Century Design
Steven J Magner
製品スペックシート

エレメントブランド商品名
LightingCedar & Moss
メーカーHerman Miller
Wall tileAnn Sacks
Dimension Field Tile
FaucetsBRIZO
LEVOIR®
ChairDesign Within Reach DWR
Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
ChairsLulu and Georgia
Anevy Accent Chair

製品スペックシート
Lighting
Wall tile
Ann Sacks さんの Dimension Field Tile
Faucets
BRIZO さんの LEVOIR®
Chair
Design Within Reach DWR さんの Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
Chairs
Lulu and Georgia さんの Anevy Accent Chair

A Mid Century Design Gets Whimsical in Oakland Hills

Heather Cleveland Design Studio Interior Designers として

They say opposites attract. For this couple, that meant fusing two very different design styles into one cozy, family-friendly home.He runs a tech firm, and at the end of the day, longs to unwind in a quiet, minimal space. She, on the other hand, adores bold color and whimsical flair, and her dream home is the hangout spot for dinner parties and sipping wine with her girlfriends. So how do you merge two polar opposite design styles to create a family-friendly space for all? In this Oakland Hills home, that’s exactly what we did.

This project is the perfect example of what’s possible when clients come to the table with a clear wish list — and then hand the implementation over to the pros.I know without a doubt that this project turned out as well as it did — and that the clients are beyond thrilled — because they trusted our team of experts. Clint and Melanie weren’t afraid to tell me what they wanted, and they were excellent collaborators.

photo_credit Steven J Magner
Steven J Magner

But when it was time to dig in, they trusted my team and I to make the final calls and to bring their wish list to life. It’s easy for clients to second-guess design decisions and want to have their hands in the process — I get that. Home is deeply personal. But at the end of the day, you’re hiring a design team to do what you can’t. And the best results are always going to come from a place of trust — from letting your design team do what they do best: to create a home just for you. For this family, we thought through every detail. From the mid century foundation to the elegant, whimsical touches, this home truly has spaces for everyone to unwind and thrive. And in the end — they were thrilled.

In fact, before this project even wrapped, Melanie asked me if I could help them with their Napa home, saying, “It’s probably a viable business plan for you to assume you’re going to be my personal designer.” That kind of trust and these types of designer-client relationships are the best part of my job. And this Oakland Hills home has been one of my favorite projects to date.

photo_credit Steven J Magner
Steven J Magner

This project started small, with Clint and Melanie’s primary bathroom renovation. After seeing the plans for the primary, their teenager, Kody, wanted a bathroom upgrade, too, and their parents were happy to oblige.As it often does, the project continued to snowball. The clients were thrilled with the plans for their new spaces, but wanted the public areas of the home to be equally beautiful. So, we expanded into the bonus room off the kitchen, the living room, and eventually the dining room for a cohesive design and feel.The goal? To create a home that was minimal and calm, but also conducive to entertaining, and durable enough for family life with 3 pups.

Apart from the disparate design styles, the actual architecture of this home presented some challenges. Built into a steep hillside, many of the window views were less-than-pleasant. The primary bathroom window looked out into a crawlspace, while the dining room window “view” was underneath the deck — a favorite bathroom spot for their 3 dogs. So we knew we needed some clever design solutions to make the most of these spaces.

photo_credit Steven J Magner
Steven J Magner

In the bathroom, we opted for etched glass. Not only did this eliminate an unattractive view, but it kept some natural light, which is always ideal in a primary bathroom. In the dining room, we decided to cover the windows altogether, bringing in oversized art pieces for a dramatic focal point. This creates the moody vibe she really wanted for entertaining, and what minimal light was lost is made up for with statement lighting.

The living room is a quiet place to unwind, per Clint’s request. He wanted a minimal space that felt soothing and warm. While she agreed that this room was largely “his” space, it was important that we gave a nod to her here, too.We played up his beloved mid century style with a classic Eames lounge chair and sleek design elements throughout. The guitars on the wall add a personal touch — he’s a music-lover and likes to take one down to play and unwind at the end of the day. The turntable gives another mid century nod, while the sideboard houses her grandfather’s collection of vintage vinyl. Finally, the art next to the TV brings a pop of classic mid century orange, but upon closer inspection, it’s a cat with a lightsaber — the perfect little nod to her whimsical style.

photo_credit Steven J Magner
Steven J Magner

When Melanie isn’t traveling to Arkansas to run the non-profit she co-founded, or at the couple’s Napa home, she loves to cook and entertain with her girlfriends. So an elegant dining room to enjoy their meals — plus a cozy space to lounge off the kitchen — was a priority.The little bonus room has a very low ceiling, and could easily feel a bit claustrophobic. Instead of trying to trick the eye and make it seem bigger, we decided to lean into the intimacy of the space. We commissioned a custom metal screen and added backlighting to give the room a sense of cozy ambiance. The lighting is even dimmable, giving Melanie and her friends complete control over the mood. To balance the hard edges and geometry, we used floor to ceiling drapery for a bit of softness and luxury. 
In the dining room, the oversized artwork creates a dramatic focal point that feels like a boutique hotel or restaurant, perfect for the upscale mood she was eager to create. The table, chairs, and sideboard all have the same mid century nods, pulling the spaces together and creating a cohesive feeling throughout the home.Lastly, the primary bathroom was designed as a luxurious spa, which to Melanie, required a steam shower. Per code, we had to drop the ceiling one inch for every foot of length — meaning a 6 inch difference in height from back to front.

photo_credit Steven J Magner
Steven J Magner

For our tiler, this required a lot of careful math and precision to ensure every tile placement looked intentional. This is where great tradespeople are worth every penny.These types of details are the difference between an ok space and one that’s truly gorgeous. While my trades — from electricians to tilers — certainly had their work cut out for them, they worked so diligently to bring these designs to life. And it shows in the end results.

photo_credit Steven J Magner
Steven J Magner

Team:
Interior Design: Heather Cleveland Design Studio
Photographer: Steven J Magner

photo_credit Steven J Magner
Steven J Magner
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